The Second Amendment Quiz

Take a shot at this Second Amendment quiz, and see if you can hit the bullseye.

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Question 1 of 30

The Second Amendment is part of what document?

The Federalist Papers

The Bill of Rights

The Second Amendment to the Constitution is found in the Bill of Rights.

The Articles of Confederation

Question 2 of 30

What right does the Second Amendment protect?

to keep and bear arms

The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms.

free speech

trial by jury

Question 3 of 30

When was the Second Amendment ratified?

1776

1789

1791

The Second Amendment with the Bill of Rights was ratified by a three-fourths majority of the original 13 states on Dec. 15, 1791.

Question 4 of 30

The Second Amendment only applies to a militia and not to individuals.

TRUE

FALSE

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Second Amendment provides an individual the right to possess a firearm for lawful purposes such as self-defense.

Question 5 of 30

Who was the author of the Bill of Rights?

James Madison

James Madison wrote the first drafts of the Constitution, co-authored the Federalist Papers and drafted the Bill of Rights. Madison later served as the fourth president of the United States.

John Adams

Thomas Jefferson

Question 6 of 30

When was the first federal gun control law passed?

1876

1934

The National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934 became the first federal gun control law in the U.S. The law levies taxes on the production and sale of certain weapons and created a national registry for gun sales.

1968

Question 7 of 30

Where is the original Bill of Rights document kept?

The White House

The U.S. Capitol

The National Archives

The original federal government copy of the Bill of Rights is kept with the Constitution and Declaration of Independence in the rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington D.C.

Question 8 of 30

What are the first words of the Second Amendment?

"No person shall…"

"Congress shall make no law…"

"A well regulated Militia…"

The Second Amendment to the Constitution begins with the words, "A well regulated Militia…"

Question 9 of 30

The widespread use of the Thompson submachine gun in organized crime prompted which legislation?

National Firearms Act of 1934

The National Firearms Act of 1934 was spurred on by the use of the Thompson submachine gun. The weapon, nicknamed the "Tommy gun," was used in the infamous 1929 Valentine's Day massacre.

Gun Control Act of 1968

Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986

Question 10 of 30

Which U.S. organization advocates for Second Amendment rights?

NEA

NRA

The National Rifle Association is the U.S. organization that advocates for Second Amendment rights.

AMA

Question 11 of 30

According to the Congressional Research Service, how many privately-owned guns are there in America?

100 million

200 million

300 million

The Congressional Research Service has reported that there are more than 300 million privately-owned guns in the U.S.

Question 12 of 30

Which legislation required the licensing of interstate gun dealers?

Omnibus Crime Control Act

National Firearms Act of 1938

The National Firearms Act of 1938 required the licensing of interstate gun dealers. The law also prohibited the sale of firearms to individuals charged with or convicted of violent crimes.

The Brady Bill

Question 13 of 30

Which U.S. President signed the National Firearms Acts into law?

President Franklin D. Roosevelt

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the National Firearms Acts into law in 1934 and 1938. Roosevelt was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 to 1945.

President Truman

President Hoover

Question 14 of 30

Which entity regulates the licensing, sale, possession and transportation of firearms and ammunition?

FBI

DEA

ATF

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regulates the licensing, sale, possession and transportation of firearms and ammunition.

Question 15 of 30

The Second Amendment protects unlimited rights to gun ownership by U.S. citizens.

TRUE

FALSE

Despite the Second Amendment saying, "…shall not be infringed," there are limitations on gun ownership that are widely considered to be constitutional.

Question 16 of 30

Which 1939 U.S. Supreme Court case led to a collective rights approach to the Second Amendment by the court?

United States v. Miller

The Supreme Court took a collective rights approach via the case of the United States v. Miller.

District of Columbia v. Heller

McDonald v. City of Chicago

Question 17 of 30

What type of firearm was at the heart of the 1939 Supreme Court case of the United States v. Miller?

machine gun

fully automatic pistol

sawed-off shotgun

The firearm involved in the United States v. Miller Supreme Court case was an unlicensed sawed-off shotgun transported from Oklahoma to Arkansas.

Question 18 of 30

Why was the National Rifle Association originally founded?

advocate for the Second Amendment

improve marksmanship

The National Rifle Association was founded in 1871 by Union veterans Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate. According to an editorial written by Church, the primary goal of the organization was to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis."

increase firearms sales

Question 19 of 30

Which legislation prohibited the sale of firearms to all convicted felons and raised the legal age of handgun purchases to 21?

Gun Control Act

The Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibited all convicted felons, drug users and the mentally ill from purchasing or possessing firearms. The law also raised the legal age of handgun purchase to 21.

Firearm Owners Protection Act

Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act

Question 20 of 30

What event led to the creation of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993?

a school shooting

workplace gun violence

Presidential assassination attempt

James Brady was the White House press secretary who was shot in the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan. Brady, who was permanently disabled, lobbied successfully for more stringent handgun laws.

Question 21 of 30

The Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986 limited the ATF from inspecting gun dealers more than once a year.

TRUE

The 1986 law passed by Congress limited ATF gun dealer inspections to once a year. The law also prohibited the creation of a national gun ownership registry.

FALSE

Question 22 of 30

The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 resulted in a federal ban of new semi-automatic assault weapons for how many years?

5

10

The ban on the manufacture of semi-automatic assault weapons and high capacity magazines was for 10 years. By 2004, the ban had run its course and was not renewed by Congress.

15

Question 23 of 30

Which right is guaranteed by the Second Amendment?

owning a handgun for self-defense

The right for a law-abiding citizen to own a handgun for self-defense is guaranteed by the Second Amendment.

possessing a fully automatic rifle

owning a shotgun with a 14-inch barrel

Question 24 of 30

Which U.S. Supreme Court case signified a change in philosophy regarding the Second Amendment?

McDonald v. City of Chicago

United States v. Dorosan

District of Columbia v. Heller

The 2008 case of the District of Columbia v. Heller signified a change in Second Amendment philosophy to the rights of individuals.

Question 25 of 30

The District of Columbia v. Heller case of 2008 overturned a ban on what?

assault rifles

handguns

The 2008 Supreme Court decision determined that the Washington D.C. ban on handguns was unconstitutional.

shotguns

Question 26 of 30

What was the margin of victory in the District of Columbia v. Heller Supreme Court case?

7 to 2

6 to 3

5 to 4

The margin of victory in the U.S. Supreme Court case the District of Columbia v. Heller was 5 in favor and 4 against.

Question 27 of 30

How long did Washington D.C. have a handgun ban in place?

32 years

The Washington D.C. statute banning handguns had been in place for 32 years.

26 years

20 years

Question 28 of 30

Which U.S. city lost a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision, which overturned a citywide handgun ban?

New York

Detroit

Chicago

In the 2010 case McDonald v. City of Chicago, the Supreme Court ruled against a citywide ban on handguns.

Question 29 of 30

In the U.S., convicted felons forfeit their Second Amendment right.

TRUE

The federal government passed laws in 1934 and 1968 that prohibit all felons from owning firearms. There are circumstances by which a felony can be expunged and civil rights may be restored, however these cases are very rare.

FALSE

Question 30 of 30

What principle led to the decision in the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision in McDonald v. City of Chicago?

The Incorporation Doctrine

In a 5-4 ruling the Supreme Court decided that the 2008 ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller would apply to state and local governments across the country.